Attempts to re-phase traffic lights in Woking town centre which were testing motorists’ patience have been widely welcomed.

Surrey County Council (SCC) has acted on calls for better synchronisation of the lights along the Victoria Way stretch of the A320, which connects Chertsey Road with Guildford Road.

In December, the protests of councillors led SCC officer Andrew Milne to promise it would be raised with the head of Surrey highways as a matter needing immediate attention.

It appears Mr Milne, area team manager for highways, has been as good as his word. He was told at that meeting that drivers had reported waiting up to 25 minutes at lights on Victoria Way alone.

There was debate as to which lights were the worst offenders, with two named as the set near Evans Cycles at the end of Guildford Road, and those by the market.

Even Woking Borough Council leader, Cllr John Kingsbury, was affected. He said he had known the lights to all turn red as he approached as if “they knew it was me”.

Mr Milne last week informed councillors that improvements to the lights would be completed by the end of March at the latest, and some work has already taken place.

A review of signals equipment has identified defects at the Church Street West junction and these have been resolved, while work is ongoing to improve the efficiency of all lights.

The vandalism of pedestrian sensors on the crossing by the market had caused a further problem and has now been rectified, while the lights near Evans Cycles are to be synchronised with the others.

Cllr Kingsbury said he had already noticed an improvement and Will Forster, county councillor for South Woking, said the steps being taken to tackle the town centre congestion were “very good news for Woking’s economy and environment.”